Is it dangerous for me to have an epidural during my hernia surgery?

No: Epidural anesthesia can be an option for some patients having surgery. Your anesthesiologist can work with your surgeon to help you decide the best choice of anesthesia for you. It also depends on what type of hernia surgery that you are having. An epidural anesthesia is generally not dangerous as long as you have not had prior back surgery and that you are not on blood thinner medications.

Not worse than GA: Epidural can be placed for post-op pain control if big sx, good if sensitive to opioids, or used as primary anesthetic during. Risks of placement: headache from puncture into spinal fluid 1-3%, or nerve damage-rare. Other risks similar to ga, lower bp, short of breath. If you have bad lung disease or difficult airway, may be preferable. For large cancer sx, may reduce bleeding, pain, recurrence.

No: Epidural anesthesia is a safe and effective technique. However, it does come with risks. But these risks are generally low. Your anesthesiologists should go over the risks, and the benefits of having an epidural.